Worthwild

Only minimally impacted by human intervention, areas with limited infrastructural development in the Alps provide European societies with a wide range of ecosystem services, such as the conservation of biodiversity and climate regulation.

Areas with limited infrastructural development in the Alps

As a consequence of the growing pressure to use such space, this type of area with limited infrastructural development is becoming increasingly scarce in many regions. At the same time, the increasing depopulation of rural areas is taking pressure off of other regions. In order to deal with both scenarios of development specific communication tools and methods are needed.

The project is based on experiences from similar approaches with regard to the assessment, communication and valuation of these landscapes. Different reference groups engaged with their conservation, such as authorities, agencies, scientists and NGOs will be provided with a forum to exchange and further develop their knowledge and experiences.

WorthWild offers a new approach that not only highlights the importance of the classical concept of nature and landscape conservation. At the same time, space in the Alps is limited in which „nature“ can be understood as a dynamic and independent concept. The conservation purpose of these landscapes is not the conservation of individual species or habitat types but rather the development of minimally influenced and natural processes. Within the framework of the Alpine Convention various activities and strategies regarding ecological connectivity have been developed and put into practice in the last few years. In this context, landscapes with limited infrastructural development play an important role. Therefore, the introduction of an alpine-wide coordinated approach would strengthen, support and further develop the implementation of the Alpine Convention.

With the following three steps WorthWild will set the basis for a longer term alpine-wide project:

Step 1: Alpine-wide state of the art of areas with limited infrastructural development

Step 2: Communication of the conservation and valuation of these areas

Step 3: From idea to implementation: How can these areas be legally anchored?

WorthWild is supported by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) through the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), Germany, and by the Paul Schiller Stiftung, Switzerland.